Who delivers ECI services?

Team Around The Child

Key WorkerMain contact from the ECI team for the family. The key worker acts as the conduit for the expertise of the whole team in a trans-disciplinary way. Where skills-based specialist intervention is required, the relevant team members should be involved. The key worker focuses on the child’s natural learning environments using the child’s daily routines and activities to promote the child’s development and participation rather than working with the child solely.

Family
Includes key members of the family/carers and the child with developmental delay or disability’s siblings. ECI works in a family-centred manner where the emphasis of intervention is upon areas of priority to the family.

Family & Community
These may include extended family and friends, medical/health and family support, playgroups, community activities such as sporting groups who come in and out of the team as required.

ECEC Educator / Teacher
An individual who provides education and care for children as part of an education and care service such as a preschool, long day care, family day care or out of school hours care service. Educators have knowledge of children’s learning in the context of a social early childhood education and care (ECEC) setting.

ECEC TeamFlexible team members (educators across the service, inclusion professional, director) who come in and out of the team as required.

ECI TeamFlexible team members from a range of disciplines (e.g. speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, ECI educator/teacher, psychologist or social worker) who can come in and out of the team as required.

Services can be delivered by a range of professionals such as ECI educators/teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, family support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals.

The family works together with ECI professionals, and other important adults in the child's life such as early childhood educators, as a team around the child. One team member, most often called a key worker, is chosen to be the main person coordinating information, services and supports. They are usually the main person working with the family and should always supported by the team.

Early childhood intervention practitioners come from a range of professional backgrounds including early childhood education, special education, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, psychology and social work.

Special Education Teachers

Special Education Teachers develop and implement specially planned instruction in partnership with the family and other professionals to support a child’s development across all domains.

Speech Pathology

Speech Pathologists can assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, voice and swallowing disorders. They may work to support a child’s communication skills and assist with issues around feeding.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists help children to move and be as physically independent as possible. Areas that physiotherapists may assist with include understanding the mechanics of different motor skills, and supporting development of balance, posture, coordination and general motor skills.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists support children in areas of daily living. For example, they may assist with:

self help skills such as participating in meal times, or around toileting.

taking part in learning experiences with their peers.

participating in and enjoying play

understanding sensory processing issues

supporting development of fine motor skills

Psychology

Psychologists are experts in the ways people think, behave and learn. They can work with team members to understand how individual children learn best, understand why children may behave in certain ways and provide support and strategies to help in these areas across different environments.

Social Work

Social Workers identify and address any external issues that may impact on a person’s wellbeing. Social workers work collaboratively, connecting families with other community services.